The Montmorency family was studied by Duchesne in the early 17th century[440]. More recently, the establishment of this family at the castle of Montmorency, and its rise to power between the 11th and 14th centuries, was analysed in detail by Brigitte Bedos[441]. Duchesne records that "la ville de Montmorency" is situated "dessus un Mont à deux lieues de S. Denys sepulchre desRoys et à quatre de Paris"[442].
[Two possible] brothers, whose descent from the family of the vicomtes d´Orléans (see the document CENTRAL FRANCE NOBILITY) has been suggested:
BOUCHARD [I] "le Barbu" de Montmorency (-before 1012). He inherited a castle on an island in the Seine from his wife (see below). Robert II King of France granted protection to the abbey of Saint-Denis, confirmed the destruction of the castle held by "Burchardi cognomento Barbati…de feudo sancti Dionysii prope ipsum castrum in insula Sequanæ", inherited "ex sua coniuge, coniugi autem ex marito suo Hugone…Basseth", and the grant of Montmorency (near Fontaine Saint-Valéry) to Bouchard, by charter dated 25 Jan 996[491]. Bedos dated this charter to 25 Jan 1008 and confirmed that it is partly spurious[492]. [Brigitte Bedos identifies "Burchardus", who subscribed a series of charters of Robert II King of France, as Bouchard [I][493]: "…Ottonis comitis, Widonis comitis, Rodulfi comitis, Rainaldi comitis, Burchardi, Odonis vicecomitis" subscribed the charter dated 1005 under which Robert II King of France confirmed possessions of Saint-Bénigne de Dijon[494]. "…Buchardus…"subscribed the charter dated 1007 under which Robert II King of France confirmed the foundation of "ecclesia B. Mariæ Bellimontis, non longe sita acastro Patris Martini…in pago Turonico"[495].] A presumably spurious charter dated Feb 1028 records that Foulques "Nerra" Comte d’Anjou granted "castris et dominiis Eroussi, Caprosæ et Marlei", previously held by "Burchardus quondam comes patruus noster et Reginaldus episcopus Parisiensis", to "Burchardo de Montemaurenciaco et Alveriæ uxoris sue et filiis suis Buchardo, Gelduino et Alberico"[496]. m as her second husband, ---, widow of HUGUES Basset, daughter of --- (-[1009/12] or after). Her marriages are confirmed by Duchesne who reproduces the "Chroniques françoises de l’abbaye de sainct Denys" which state that "Bouchard a la Barbe" held a castle "en une Isle de Seine" from "sa femme, et sa femme d’un sien mary qu’elle ut paravant…Huc Basset"[497]. Bouchard [I] & his wife had [five] children